Operation Barbarossa - Alpha AAR

[elmo3]

Progress for AGN has all but stopped.  We are pushing forward a couple of hexes per turn but we'll never make Leningrad before Winter at this rate.  XXVI and I Corps of the 18th Army (purple) along the coast are just about at the limit of their supply lines.  Someone suggested diverting from the direct route to Leningrad to cut off Soviet forces west of 4th Pz Grp (red) and I will consider that if they don't withdraw this turn.

[elmo3]

Time for a change of plans for AGC.  The envisioned mega pocket never developed.  So 2nd Pz Grp (light blue) and 3rd Pz Grp (light green) will both drive right through the center of the Soviet forces in this area and head for Vyazma and then Moscow.  We'll try to carry the day with a straight forward bull rusn and the infantry holding the flanks.  There should be plenty of infantry in the area now to allow this without risk of the panzers being cut off.  So as you can see in this shot 2nd PzGrp is relocating northeast to coordinate with 3rd Pz Grp.  2nd Army (medium blue) is now in position to take over on the right flank while 4th Army (dark blue) finishes up it's operation to the south in the marsh.  9th Army (dark green) will continue to hold the left flank after clearing the pockets from last turn and will maintain contact with AGN.

[ComradeP]

Elmo, do you think it's possible for a competent Axis player to achieve a near-historical result for 1941 without the Axis overextending in the winter?

Some of the Barbarossa TOAW scenarios quickly lead to stalemates like you could face in the AGN sector, with the 1941 objectives somewhat close but still far away. It seems that in the majority of the Eastern Front wargame, it's very difficult for the Axis player to come close to the historical 1941 advance.

[elmo3]

Elements of 1st Pz Grp (red) punched across the minor Irpen River into the clear to the southwest of Kiev.  Resistance is stiffening in front of Kiev and we expect a tough fight for the prize of the Ukraine.  I want to break the line along the Dnepr quickly and be able to hit Kiev from both sides of the river.  If we let the Soviets build a strong line of defense along that river it will get ugly.

[elmo3]

In the far south Odessa fell after another heavy aerial bombardment.  Other than that things were relatively quiet.  I'm undecided what to do next down here so we'll see what the Soviets do in their part of the turn and then decide.

[Balou]

What's the day or week ?

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: Balou

What's the day or week ?

Losses through turn 8 (the week of 8/7/41)

[wiking62]

Hi elmo,

Any chance of a screenshot of the whole Eastern front so that we can visualise the whole campaign to date?

[Balou]

Looking at the Kiew map, I wonder what you plans are. You've made a nice advance to Smolensk and beyond using up two Pz-Armies, and a rather slow advance with one Pz-Army in the North. Given that, I expect a similar and slow advance thru or around Kiev. Soviet / AI resistance rapidly grows very, very strong and with just one fast combat group (1st PzArmy) it's probably a tough one to pocket Kiew.
It is very interesting to see that many more Soviet unit symbols appear were you mass your troops whereas farther south in front of 11th army the AI frontline remains a rather thin brown line. Do we know whether the AI relocates troops in between Army groups ?

[pgarcia]

Its interesting how the AAR is going. The stalling gives the rationale to the Hitler directive that sent Pzgroups to the north and south to help take Kiev and push towards Leningrad. This seems also to be the current view on how the campaign went.

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: hart2412

Hi elmo,

Any chance of a screenshot of the whole Eastern front so that we can visualise the whole campaign to date?

Couldn't quite get the whole map in one shot but close enough:

[wiking62]

Thanks elmo.

I like to review the overall strategic position now and again.

Looking forward to the rest of your AAR.

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: Balou

Looking at the Kiew map, I wonder what you plans are. You've made a nice advance to Smolensk and beyond using up two Pz-Armies, and a rather slow advance with one Pz-Army in the North. Given that, I expect a similar and slow advance thru or around Kiev. Soviet / AI resistance rapidly grows very, very strong and with just one fast combat group (1st PzArmy) it's probably a tough one to pocket Kiew.
It is very interesting to see that many more Soviet unit symbols appear were you mass your troops whereas farther south in front of 11th army the AI frontline remains a rather thin brown line. Do we know whether the AI relocates troops in between Army groups ?

The terrain just north of Kiev is an ugly sight to any tread head. My panzers are lined up to cross to the south and then swing north. 6th Army (light purple) and 17th Army (brown) will apply the pressure from the west and north.

I don't know if the AI will reassign units or not.

[Balou]

We just learned from one of the posts (Q&A thread) how important the Ukraine is as a resource area. I don't know how important Kiev really is apart from beeing a capital, but if the map is what it should be, than Krivoi Rog must be a main resource center. Is there yet some objective for 1st PzArmy in the longer run ?

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: Balou

We just learned from one of the posts (Q&A thread) how important the Ukraine is as a resource area. I don't know how important Kiev really is apart from beeing a capital, but if the map is what it should be, than Krivoi Rog must be a main resource center. Is there yet some objective for 1st PzArmy in the longer run ?

Not exactly sure what you are asking. Here is a map highlighting the factories in the Ukraine area. Maybe that will help with planning strategy beyond Kiev.

[GMeyer]

Anybody have any idea when this beauty will be released?

[Balou]

For the next days 1st PzArmy will obviously participate in Operation Kiev. But from then onwards ? Swing north-east, in case AGC needs some support. Or will you keep your Panzers "in the south" ?

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: GMeyer

Anybody have any idea when this beauty will be released?

Tentative time frame is late Q2, subject to change of course.

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: Balou

For the next days 1st PzArmy will obviously participate in Operation Kiev. But from then onwards ? Swing north-east, in case AGC needs some support. Or will you keep your Panzers "in the south" ?

1st Pz Grp will stay with AGS after Kiev. Where they go is hard to say but I heard Dnepropetrovsk is nice in the Fall. [;)] Depends on the weather to some degree. Generally we want to be hunkered down before the blizzards hit because Ivan will be going over on the offensive when that happens, and we won't be getting any winter weather clothing this year.

[elmo3]

We got about a foot of snow overnight and it's still snowing, so General Winter will delay my next move.  And we are supposed to get even more snow starting tomorrow some time.  [8|]